Ball game with collapsible target



May 6, 1952 A. EISTETTER BALL GAME WITH COLLAPSIBLE TARGET Filed Sept. 9, 1949 IIIIIII/II/OIII Ill 11/ I III/ Fig.3.

Patented May 6, 1952 2,595,649 BALL GAME WITH COLLAPSIBLE TARGET Alfred E. Eistetter, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada Application September 9, 1949, Serial No. 114,881

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a game apparatus, and particularly appertains to a target at which marbles or similar projectiles may be rolled or otherwise propelled.

The primary object of this invention is to form a compact, inexpensive and simple game apparatus and target which can be readily assembled and disassembled.

Another important object of this invention is to utilize the bottom of a box as the playing surface and to construct one end portion of the box so that it can be used as the target.

These and ancillary objects and structural features of merit are attained by this invention, a preferred embodiment of which is set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in perspective of the target and playing surface;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View, illustrating the target in a collapsed position.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the reference numeral designates the game apparatus, which is integrally formed with the bottom 12 of a rectangular box, the bottom being formed with a bottom wall it and parallel upstanding side walls 16 and upstanding end walls It. A rectangular insert 24 is provided and is disposed within the box bottom I2, the insert including an upper flat wall 26 which is disposed in the same horizontal plane with the upper edges of the side and end walls of the box bottom. Parallel side walls 28 and end walls at space the top wall 26 from the bottom wall M of the box bottom. It is to be noted that the insert is spaced from the end walls It of the box bottom and is spaced from one of the side walls It, as seen in Figure 1. A longitudinally extending inclined trough or gutter 20 is formed between the side wall is and the side wall 28, the inclined end of the gutter extending transversely to the storage space 22 between the end wall 18 and the end wall 39, the storage chamber or section being provided for storing the projectiles or marbles. An alley or gutter 32 extends parallel behind the opposing end wall 33 of the insert and is connected to the upper end of the gutter 20 so that projectiles rolled along the playing surface 26 and past the target board 34 are returned to the storage chamber 22 by means of the alleys 32 and 26.

The target 34 includes a rectangular board 36, which is hinge dly secured in integral fashion to the upper edge of the playing surface 26 adjacent the end wall 30, which is in front of the alley 32. A plurality of spaced openings 38 are formed at the lower edge of the target, the openings being flush at their lower points with the playing surface, so that projectiles rolled forwardly on the playing surface are adapted to fall through the openings onto the alley 32. Of course, various scoring values will be provided for each of the openings.

Means is provided for retaining the target in perpendicular position with respect to the playing surface, and preferably includes a pair of arcuate supporting legs 40 and 42 which are hingedly secured at their upper ends to the upper portion of the target and which are formed at their lower ends with shoulders 44, so that the lower ends of the legs are adapted to seat on the upper edge of the end walls N3 of the box bottom. It is to be noted that the target board, when in a collapsed position as seen in Figure 4, is of a length equal to the distance between the end wall 30 and the end wall I8, so that the upper edge of the target fits flush on the upper edge of the end wall l8. When'the target is disposed in a collapsed and folded position the legs are folded upwardly under the'target, as seen in Figure 4.

It is to be particularly noted that the insert and target are formed integral, preferably being formed of cardboard or similar material, so that the target can be easily folded into a perpendicular playing position or into a'collapsed position. The insert may be easily secured within the bottom I2 on the box by gluing or otherwise affixing the attached edges of the side and end walls thereof to the bottom wall. Thus, it can be seen that an inexpensive and compact game apparatus is provided, whereby marbles or similar projectiles may be impelled or rolled along the playing surface and through the various openings.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: T

A game apparatus comprising a playing board positioned within a box having upstanding end and side walls, a fiat cardboard-like target hingedly secured to one end of said playing board and adapted to assume a first position in the plane of said playing board and a second position perpendicular thereto, said one end of said playing board being in spaced relation to a juxtaposed end wall of the box, arcuate cardboard- 2,595,649 3 4 like supporting legs hingedly connected to the REFERENCES CITED end upper edge portlons of a1d target and The following references are of record in the adapted to assume a first position in abutment file of this patent:

with the back side of said target and a second position at right angles to said first position, said 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS legs being provided with notches at their free Number Name Date ends for engagement with said juxtaposed end 921,366 Conolly May 11, 1909 wail of the box when in their second position for 1,657,912 Assorati Jan. 31, 1928 supporting thetarget. 1,819,982 Walden Aug. 18, 1931 I ALFRED E. EISTETTER. 10 1,889,899 Langenhaun Dec. 6, 1932 

